50 Adorable Pet Adoption Pictures To Make Your Day A Little Brighter (October Edition)

To learn more on the topic, we contacted PAWS, or the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, a non-profit organization based in Lynnwood, Washington, dedicated to promoting animal welfare through various rescue, rehabilitation, and advocacy programs. Established in 1967, PAWS focuses on rescuing and caring for domestic animals as well as injured, orphaned, and sick wildlife.

According to them, one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding pet adoption is that it'll be easy to integrate a new animal into your home. "It takes work and patience for everyone to adjust and get to know each other," PAWS told Bored Panda. "It usually takes at least a couple weeks for an animal to really settle into their new environment."

Another myth is that by getting an older pet you won't be able to form the same kind of bond as you would by young one. "It's simply not true and you can form amazing relationships!"

Around 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Some estimate that the number has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011, with the biggest decrease being in dogs—from 3.9 million to 3.1 million.

About 810,000 animals (710,000 dogs and 100,000 cats) who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners each year.

Additionally, roughly 4.1 million are adopted.

"Adopting an animal means the agency you adopted from can then bring in and help another homeless animal, so by adopting one animal you are helping 2!" the staff at PAWS said. "It also just continues to support that agency so they can keep doing good work."

Getting a new pet is incredibly exciting, however, it's crucial to remember that it comes with responsibilities. Pets need time, attention, and financial support for their care, so it's essential to be prepared for the commitment and duties.

In a survey of 856 people who considered acquiring or did acquire a pet in the last 12 months; 70% of them got, or wanted to get, dogs and 30% picked cats.

The survey also showed that people still see animal welfare organizations as good places to find their next furry family member. That’s especially the case for dogs, with 39% of respondents noting they went to a shelter or rescue to adopt. Breeders made up 30%.

In the vast majority of those cases, people got their cat from a friend or family member (67%) or via a connection through a friend or family member (22%). Cats were far less frequently acquired from a breeder (7%).

However, if you too want to adopt an animal, be prepared to invest some time. While 71% of respondents who got a new cat said it took them less than a month, only 51% of people acquiring dogs did so in fewer than 30 days.